Annie's Rodents
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| Radical Rats |
The Historical Rat
Humans and rats have been living together for thousands of years. Many
cultures throughout history have revered rats.
Ancient Egyptians worshipped rats.
Rome considered the rat a good luck symbol.
In Japan on New Year's, people set out rice cakes. If the cakes have
been nibbled on, it's considered a good omen for the coming year.
The Chinese regard the rat so highly that they put the rat first in the
Chinese zodiac.
In the Hindu culture, the elephant-headed god of prosperity Ganesha's
preferred mode of transportation is riding on the back of a rat.
But rats haven't always had it easy. Rats have been accused of the
deaths of 25 million people in 14th century Europe, even though it wasn't
the rats, but the fleas on the rats. In the Middle Ages, rats were thought
to be in league with the devil.
In the wild, rats are one of the worst pests to agriculture. They cause
hundreds of millions of dollars worth of damage each year to farms. Grains, fruits,
vegetables, eggs, and meats are some of the things rats ruin. But food isn't the
only thing to be attacked. Livestock, wiring, furniture, insulation and more is
destroyed on a daily basis.
Humans and rats have been living together for thousands of years. Many
cultures throughout history have revered rats.
Ancient Egyptians worshipped rats.
Rome considered the rat a good luck symbol.
In Japan on New Year's, people set out rice cakes. If the cakes have
been nibbled on, it's considered a good omen for the coming year.
The Chinese regard the rat so highly that they put the rat first in the
Chinese zodiac.
In the Hindu culture, the elephant-headed god of prosperity Ganesha's
preferred mode of transportation is riding on the back of a rat.
But rats haven't always had it easy. Rats have been accused of the
deaths of 25 million people in 14th century Europe, even though it wasn't
the rats, but the fleas on the rats. In the Middle Ages, rats were thought
to be in league with the devil.
In the wild, rats are one of the worst pests to agriculture. They cause
hundreds of millions of dollars worth of damage each year to farms. Grains, fruits,
vegetables, eggs, and meats are some of the things rats ruin. But food isn't the
only thing to be attacked. Livestock, wiring, furniture, insulation and more is
destroyed on a daily basis.